Rize
Director David Lachapelle
Countries United States
Duration 86 min
Synopsis
“Rize” reveals an innovative dance phenomenon that appeared on the streets of South Central, in Los Angeles. Benefiting from unlimited access, the documentary shows, for the first time, a revolutionary artistic form born from oppression. This spectacular, agressive dance modernizes gestures and steps inspired by African tribal rituals and adds in extremely fast athletic movements. “Rize” follows the fascinating evolution of this dance: we meet Tommy Johnson (Tommy the Clown), who first created the style as a response to the Rodney King riots in 1992 and named it clowning, paving the way for the kids who developed the movement and called it Krumping. They use the dance as an alternative to gangs and violence.
“Rize” reveals an innovative dance phenomenon that appeared on the streets of South Central, in Los Angeles. Benefiting from unlimited access, the documentary shows, for the first time, a revolutionary artistic form born from oppression. This spectacular, agressive dance modernizes gestures and steps inspired by African tribal rituals and adds in extremely fast athletic movements. “Rize” follows the fascinating evolution of this dance: we meet Tommy Johnson (Tommy the Clown), who first created the style as a response to the Rodney King riots in 1992 and named it clowning, paving the way for the kids who developed the movement and called it Krumping. They use the dance as an alternative to gangs and violence.